Even as the world today is entirely dominated by ego, most people don’t really know what it is. The ego disguises itself by convincing you that it is you and you are it. Only by looking at what the ego really is can you recognize that it is not you.

According to the ego’s self-serving thought system, you are nothing more than your fearful and selfish thoughts. Fear everyone and everything. Look out for yourself. Be normal, fit in, yet somehow show that you are special and unique. Fear the world’s institutions, which you believe have real power.

According to the ego, happiness will come in the future when you are successful, respected, rich, famous, and when you get all the people around you to do what they are supposed to do. Happiness requires that you withhold truth, manipulate, lie—do whatever it takes. Set goals. Reach toward your destination. Work harder. Fight for it. Stand up for yourself. The story of your past defines you. Trust only yourself, even as you continue to blow with the wind.

The ego is nothing more than an insane, desperate and confused mind racing—a tree without roots or a ship without a rudder. Most people don’t know that it is possible to let all of this go while sacrificing nothing. Sacrifice is only to be found in ego, not beyond it. This sacrifice causes many problems—physical suffering, illness, conflict, fear, exhaustion, depression and others. This is the body’s reaction to the ego’s insane, panicked thoughts.

The ego’s selfish drive to seek happiness at any cost is the cause of human misery, poverty, war and environmental disaster. This sick thought system would have us sacrifice other humans, the planet, our own health and anything or anyone that gets in the way of our thoughts. While they may pretend, no person has ever found true and lasting happiness this way. This is insanity and it is time for change.

Let go of ego and gain everything. You can enjoy life now, in the present moment, if you align with the awareness that you are consciousness, you are love, here, now. Here we are, right? Honor the present moment—where all the universe exists and always has—by being honest, open, and accepting. Without ego, it is easy to live here now and eternally.